Marlins to stick with Jay Buente for one more start, but do they have any other choice?

The fact that the Marlins were forced to bring up a pitcher who has just nine starts in his six-year minor league career, five of them in the last month since he was converted from a reliever, amplifies the lack of pitching depth in the organization.

Jay Buente, 27, really was the only option to replace Josh Johnson when the ace went on the DL, which is the exact reason manager Edwin Rodriguez kept saying there were no alternatives when Javier Vazquez was going through is funk. That issue has been solved, at least for now, since Vazquez strong outing Saturday.
Buente was 3-0 with a PCL-leading 1.94 ERA for Class AAA New Orleans when he was scratched from his start Friday and told to start packing for South Florida. The only other real candidate to come up in an emergency is Tom Koehler (5-0, 2.92). Elih Villanueva had a solid spring training but is 4-4, 6.18.

None of the three, though, are considered top prospects.

The two starters in the minors with the most major league experience are Sean West and Alex Sanabia. West has been a huge disappointment for a first-round pick (2005). He has been injured most of this season but returns today and is starting for New Orleans. Sanabia has a forearm injury and is not expected to pitch for awhile.

Rodriguez said Sunday that Buente is still slated to start one more game (Saturday against the Dodgers) after lasting just three innings Sunday. The club is then hopeful the inflammation in Johnson’s right shoulder will subside in time for him to return June 1.

Anybody have any other options for Saturday’s start? Anybody else you would like to see take the ball against the Dodgers?

Hayes mowing them down

Brett Hayes made his sixth start of the season and threw out 2-of-3 runners attempting to steal, catching leadoff hitter Elliot Johnson in the second and Johnny Damon in the third. Sean Rodriguez beat the throw in the eighth.

Hayes has now gunned down 50 percent (3-of-6) of the runners attempting to steal on him this season.